A tie-break in tennis is a special game played to decide the winner of a set when the score reaches 6-6 in games. Instead of continuing regular games, players compete to be the first to score 7 points, but they must win by a margin of at least 2 points (e.g., 7-5 or 8-6). If neither player achieves a 2-point lead at 7 points, play continues until one does

How the Tie-Break Works:

• Scoring: Points are counted numerically (1, 2, 3, etc.) instead of the usual 15, 30, 40 system.
• Serving: The player who was due to serve next starts the tie-break with one serve from the right (deuce) court. After that, players alternate serving two points each, starting from the left (advantage) court, then right, and so on.
• Switching Sides: Players switch ends after the first point and then after every 6 points (i.e., after points 1, 7, 13, etc.) to ensure fairness regarding conditions like sun or wind

Final Set Tie-Breaks in Grand Slams:

• In recent years, all four Grand Slam tournaments have adopted a 10-point tie-break (first to 10 points with a 2-point margin) to decide matches that reach 6-6 in the final set, replacing the previous rule of playing until a two-game lead was achieved. This prevents marathon matches and creates consistency across tournaments

Summary:

• A tie-break is triggered at 6-6 in a set.
• Players race to 7 points, must win by 2.
• Serve alternates after the first point.
• Players switch sides periodically.
• Final sets in major tournaments use a 10-point tie-break to decide the match

This system adds excitement and ensures matches conclude in a timely and fair manner.